BBC soap EastEnders is bidding farewell to a long-running cast member, as Clair Norris, who plays fan-favourite Bernie Taylor, will leave the show later this year after eight years on Albert Square.
Norris, 27, is the last remaining character from the Taylor family, who first arrived in Walford in 2017. Her exit marks the end of an era, with the entire Taylor clan now written out of the show.
A BBC spokesperson confirmed the news, saying:
“We can confirm that Clair will be leaving EastEnders later this year and we wish her all the best for the future.”
End of the Taylors in Walford
Bernie’s exit follows the departure of her on-screen family in recent years:
- Karen Taylor (Lorraine Stanley) exited in 2024.
- Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters) was killed off in 2023.
- Chantelle died in a domestic abuse storyline in 2020.
- Keegan moved to Germany in 2022.
- Mitch, Mia, and Mackenzie also left in 2024.
- Felix (Matthew Morrison), Karen’s foster son, is also reportedly leaving.
Bernie will exit in what is being described as a “dramatic” storyline, though full plot details remain under wraps.
Fans React with Disappointment
News of Clair Norris’s departure has left many fans heartbroken.
One wrote on X:
“Gutted about Bernie – Clair is a fab actor & feels quintessentially #EastEnders… she was written into a bit of a tricky corner once they axed all her family.”
Another added:
“I think it’s a shame they’ve axed Bernie & have sidelined her for ages… there’s nothing really on the Square for her anymore.”
Others accepted the news with mixed emotions, with one user commenting:
“Everyone at EastEnders loves Clair but often characters have to leave for new stories to begin.”
A Source Close to Production Said:
“The writing has been on the wall for Bernie for some time… It’s time to close the chapter on the Taylors and let Clair go on to do other things.”
Looking Ahead
Clair Norris has not yet announced her next move, but fans and insiders alike agree she will have a promising future beyond the soap. She previously earned praise for her performance in a BBC Panorama documentary and has hinted at aspirations beyond Walford.
